Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $45,870 a year ($22.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,110 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,350 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $38,630. Pay here is 6% lower than the California statewide median of $48,840. There are 0.34 switchboard operators, including answering service per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $49,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for switchboard operators, including answering service in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,740 | $18.15 |
| 25th percentile | $39,550 | $19.01 |
| Median | $45,870 | $22.05 |
| 75th percentile | $57,870 | $27.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,350 | $31.90 |
| Average (mean) | $49,520 | $23.81 |
Half of switchboard operators, including answering service earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,822.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,911.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,764.23 |
| Weekly | $882.12 |
| Hourly | $22.05 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $45,870 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $79,260 | 440 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $61,780 | 700 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $59,360 | 170 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $49,840 | 60 |
| Napa, CA | $49,460 | 50 |
| Salinas, CA | $48,840 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,380 | 420 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $46,330 | 90 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,080 | 570 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $44,680 | 80 |
| Fresno, CA | $44,590 | 150 |
| Visalia, CA | $44,330 | 40 |
| Modesto, CA | $44,320 | 70 |
| Merced, CA | $44,190 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $44,130 | 500 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $42,710 | 140 |
Highest-paying states for switchboard operators, including answering service
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $59,860 |
| District of Columbia | $54,700 |
| California | $48,840 |
| Washington | $47,800 |
| Minnesota | $47,430 |
| New York | $45,330 |
| New Hampshire | $44,210 |
| Massachusetts | $43,790 |
| Colorado | $43,720 |
| Maine | $43,350 |
See Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Equipment Operators, All Other | $60,630 | $29.15 |
| Telephone Operator | $58,900 | $28.32 |
| Office Clerks, General | $48,100 | $23.13 |
| Customer Service Representative | $48,840 | $23.48 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $53,550 | $25.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $77,530 | $37.27 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $58,590 | $28.17 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $51,410 | $24.72 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $43,280 | $20.81 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,980 | $22.11 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $61,810 | $29.72 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $82,850 | $39.83 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $53,070 | $25.51 |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | $63,520 | $30.54 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a switchboard operators, including answering service make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for switchboard operators, including answering service in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $45,870 a year, or $22.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid switchboard operators, including answering service make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of switchboard operators, including answering service in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $66,350 a year. The top 25% earn $57,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for switchboard operators, including answering service in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,740 a year, and a quarter of switchboard operators, including answering service earn $39,550 or less.
How many switchboard operators, including answering service work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 2,110 switchboard operators, including answering service are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.